TeachingYLs - learning styles YLs

task 4: consider the implications of teaching the following age groups: 4 - 6 year olds, 7 - 9 year olds and 10 - 14 year olds. What will you need to take into consideration when teaching each age group? How will your role as a teacher change?

Now read the information below and see if any of your ideas appear

4 – 6 year olds

Characteristics	Implications	Need
Pre-school or just beginning school	Not used to classroom conventions	Explain classroom rules
Limited motor skills	Clumsy control of pen/scissors etc	To develop motor control e.g. colouring / copying
Learn holistically	Whole child needs stimulation	Opportunities to move, sing, play, explore, touch etc
Cannot distinguish between different parts of language	Cannot analyse language	Exposure to ‘chunks’ of language e.g. chants, stories, classroom language
They can’t read or write	Introducing reading / writing in English	Lots of listening, speaking activities Fun introduction to English letters and words
See no need to communicate in English	Speaking practice with the teacher	Reasons to speak English
Love stories	Bored with many topics	Stories, fantasy, fun

7 – 9 year olds

Characteristics	Implications	Need
Beginning to be logical and analytical	Can see patterns, aware of language	Opportunities to experiment e.g. making up own chants
Reading and writing still minimal in English	Still need support and help	Practice and success oriented activities
Still have problems sharing	Problems with pair and group work	Teacher to guide them and chances to work alone
Developing confidence to express themselves	Students will have views on what they want to do / talk about	Chance to state opinions
Developing knowledge of the world around them	Know more than we often give them credit for	Give a chance to express their interests. TBL gives variety in topics

10 – 12 year olds

Characteristics	Implications	Need
Longer attention span	Greater range of activities possible in class	Opportunities to engage in tasks that require focus and commitment
Knowledge of the world growing	More topics can be addressed	Chance for debates / projects / cross cultural projects
Taking learning more seriously	Can be given responsibility	Chances to be independent
Still children	Can react like kids	Teacher sensitive to their needs and moods
More co-operative with peers	Can do more group work	Variety of grouping in class i.e. work on own, in pairs, in groups, as a class
Intellectual, motor and social skills developing	Can be challenged more	Activities that challenge them
Developing own learning strategies	Children won’t all react in the same way to task / topic	Give a variety of activities. Give opportunities for tasks to be personalised